Introduction
We – that is, Per Ole Syvertsen and myself – decided to jump on a trip to Cyprus on rather short notice, and booked on a charter flight leaving from Gardermoen, Oslo early in the morning on the 4th of April. There was a terrible weather this morning so we couldn’t have chosen a better day to departure from the winter, still holding an iron grip in the South-eastern Norway. The weather caused a 2 hours delay of the flight but anyway we landed safely at Larnaca airport at 13.30 in the afternoon. A rental car was booked in advance and we paid 1300 NOK (ca 145 USD) for one week. Be aware of paying a local insurance for the car, which is 500 NOK (ca 56 USD) for a week. We got a Suzuki 1000, which reminds much of a Lada samara, this was the cheapest alternative (class 1). We had also booked a room in advance at Apollo Hotel, at Paphos in the Southwestern part of the country (6th-10th of April). Our Resort Hotel (Maistrali) was located in Fig Tree Bay at the eastern coast, not far from Cape Greco. We used "A Birdwatching Guide to Cyprus" by Stagg and Hearl (Arlequin, 1998). The guide was helpful, but we experienced that there had been some change since the writing of this book, especially regarding level of water in most of the water systems. But this is most probably due to seasonal variations…?

(Sub)species wanted
Our main target for the trip was of course the two endemic species, Cyprus Warbler and Wheatear, but nonetheless the endemic subspecies were at least as interesting. Up in Trodos Mountains we expected to find the endemic ssp. of Short-toed Tree creeper (ssp. dorothea), Coal Tit (ssp. cypriotes), Jay (ssp. glaszneri) and Crossbill (ssp. guillemardi). In addition to these, the endemic ssp. of Scops Owl (cyprius), which deviates from the European in song with a double tone from the male. Other interesting subspecies from our point of view where the med. Shag (ssp. desmarestii), Eastern Moustached Warbler (ssp. mimica), Eastern Olivaceuos Warbler (ssp. elaeica which in 2002 is treated as a separate species), and Eastern Bonelli's Warbler (ssp. orientalis, now considered a full species). One further aim was of course to “fill up” on our western palearctic lists…

Itinerary
04.04: Cape Greco
05.04: Cape Greco -Aklina Dam (what was left of it) - Paralimni Salt Lake (and Sotira Pools) -Cape Greco -Fig Tree Bay.
06.04: Fig Tree Bay - Akrotiri reed beds/Salt Pan -Phassouri reed beds (burned down) -Gravel pits -Akrotiri Salt Lake (SW) -Lady's Mile -Aspro(kemnos) Dam, shallow end -Aspro(kemnos) Pools -Paphos.
07.04: Paphos Lighthouse -Tomb of Kings -Germasogeia Dam -Kensington Cliffs -Paphos Airport -Aspro Pools -Nikokleia -Paphos.
08.04: Paphos -Paphiana Hotel -Mandria Beach -Trodos Mountains -Aspro Pools -Paphos.
09.04: Paphos -Polis -Bath of Aphrodite -Evretou Dam (North then South) -Paphos Forest via Simou and Kio (deserted village) -Panagia -Asprogia -Paphos.
10.04: Paphos -Larnaca Airport (Salt lake) -North lake -South lake -Spiro's Pools -Kiti Dam (dry) -Cape Kiti -Cape Greco -Fig Tree Bay
11.04: Cape Greco -Xylophagou -Avgorou -Fienaros -Deigeneia -Sotira Pools -Paralimni -Cape Greco -Fig Tree Bay.

Day 1
We spent the first afternoon at Cape Greco, which is situated south of Fig Tree Bay. This is a really interesting resting site for migratory passerines like warbles, wheatears and buntings. Some of the best species we saw the first afternoon here were Rüppell's, Orphean and Spectacled Warblers, Isabelline Wheatears and the "jewel of he crown" a male Cinereous Bunting in a flock of Cretzschmar's, which was a good candidate for the best species of the trip, already in the first evening! A sad reminder of Cyprus' not too good hunting reputation came when I found an exhausted Masked Shrike together with an already dead Chiffchaff on a limestick. The condition of the shrike was so bad that I decided that I had to kill it. This was my first observation of the species so I won't forget that moment in a while… The next day we met the bird report coordinator for eastern Cyprus, John Sanders. He could asure that if you have found one limestick, there would probably still be around a hundred in the same area. We where told from a local kiosk owner at Cape Greco that the marked value of a Blackcap is around 2 USD, and they are mostly sold abroad.

Day 2
The next day we first headed back to Cape Greco hoping for both sea and passerine migration, it wasn't too impressive, but some Audouin's Gulls and 2 Mediterranean Shearwaters were good, considering the not too ideal conditions. There where some pipits on the move (Tawny, Red-throated and Tree) and we got good views of Cyprus Warbler and Wheatear. We left the cape and headed northwards to Aklina Dam, or what was left of it. Here we witnessed one of Cyprus major problems, the lack of water. The amount of water was much less than described in the guide, and some scattered pools where all that was left. In spite of this fact, the area held good numbers of waders, including our only Spur-winged Plover of the trip. Here we met J.S. who also showed us some Glossy Ibises, which used a small pool right next to a farm to feed in. He also showed us Sotira Pools, which gave us excellent views of both Little and Spotted Crake. He furthermore tipped us about a male Rock Thrush, which had been seen out on Cape Greco, so we decided to give it a try. It really paid off! Three excellent males showed really good and for a moment all of them where sitting in the same tree (with an Orphean Warbler as well…)

Day 3
We drove off rather early, and headed for the Akrotiri area near Limassol. We started in the northern end, Akrotiri reed beds and Salt Lake and the surrounding "woods" and gardens containing mostly eucalyptus trees. The latter gave almost nothing; at a distance it looked quite promising but up close not much of interest. The reed gave a lot of singing Reed Warblers, but the really interesting place in our eyes where when we took the track through the reeds that ended on the northern shore of the salt lake, which is a flat sandy area with halophytes. Here we found our only Bimaculated Lark of the trip, other interesting lark species here was Short-toed and Calandra Larks. We drove on to what in the guide is called Phassouri reed beds, all that was left was Phassouri. Local farmers had burned the entire reed area down. From here we continued to Akrotiri Gravel Pits, which didn't give anything of particular interest before we continued towards the Southeastern part of Akrotiri Salt Lake. En route here we stumbled over a beautiful male Rock Thrush perched in a tower. And when trying to locate Bishops Pools (I think we go really close but never found it), we ended up inside some fences. When I went out to check if there was possible to get out through a gate I almost stepped on 6 ft long Blunt-nosed Viper (Vipera lebetina). The most poisonous snake on the island, take you out in 3 min, and kills you within an hour. I got a little shaky over the close encounter… The pools southeast of the Salt lake and Lady's Mile gave some waders including the only Avocet and good numbers of Kentish Plovers, and good views of an adult female Pallid Harrier that was hunting in the area. We left the Limassol area for the shallow end of the Asprokemnos (Aspro for short) Dam. Roadside we had good views of a flock of 200+ Spanish Sparrows, probably in a nesting area for the species. We were hoping for Finsch's Wheatear near the deserted village in the shallow end of the dam, this is a standard wintering site for the species, but no luck. But we did see a Long-legged Buzzard, which was a nice substitute… We also saw a Large Whip-snake (Coluber jugularis) in the deserted village, which had taken a Black Rat (Rattus rattus). We ended the day at Aspro Pools, which held two female Little Crakes, a spotted not seen by us, and a remarkable Moustached Warbler, first miss-identified as a sedge warbler. The confusion was cleared up the next day…

Day 4
Because of strong winds in the morning, I decided to try to look for some seabirds, while Per Ole roamed the Lighthouse area in search for passerines. The (rather cold) sea watch gave a couple of Cory's, some Garganey and a 3rd cal. Audouin's gull on the move. After breakfast we went to Tomb of Kings, a tourist place where there had been reports of Pied Kingfisher. After a rather long search we finally managed to find it along the shore, another big highlight for the trip seeing this large kingfisher fishing off the cliff-shore. Coming back to the hotel later that morning we met Jeff Gordon in the information centre of the hotel. He told us that the evening before there had been a sighting of White-tailed Plover in the northern end of Germasogeia dam, located north of Limassol. We decided to have a go for it, once a twitcher… In short, we failed to see the plover, but the trip was not in vein. The northern end of the dam was a really nice area with a small stream running through a grassy area. Here, we found a very elusive Little Crake, Squacco Heron, Water Pipits and lots of other passerines. On the way back to the Paphos Area, we made a stop at Kensington which is a known breeding site for Griffon Vultures, we found them and also Alpine Swifts here, but unfortunately we where much to early for Eleonora's Falcon which also breeds here. We drove on to area around Paphos Airport, yet another place dominated by woods of eucalyptus. Beside really good views of Black Francolin, this was a really sad place… Our next stop that evening was at Aspro Pools, where we luckily met a Scottish-Dutch birder named Magnus S. Robb. He was making sound recordings for a CD, and he was the one drawing attention to what we first had recognised as Sedge, but which really was a Moustached warbler. The eastern ssp. has longer wings, and less contrast in the ear coverts making it look more like a Sedge Warbler than the nominate. On behaviour, it was quite "easy" to pick out even on distance, it never moved more than 20-30 cm above water level in the reeds, spending most of the time very close to the water surface. As the dusk fell we also got very good sightings of a Little Bittern and Night Herons started to air their frog-like calls. We decided to join Magnus back to his hotel to listen for owls, which gave both Scops and Little Owl calling. He was the one that also made us aware of the difference in call between nominate and the local Scops Owl.

Day 5
After a short check of the lighthouse area we decided to make use of a site tip we receaved before our departure. Near a hotel called Paphiana there is a small woody area which attracts passerines on migration. When we started to check the area we found what I would call “slum-huts”. It took several minutes before we realized that there where actually people living in the huts made up of corrugated iron and wood. Although the people were friendly, it was an unpleasant feeling walking around in the area. Our target species for the area was Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, but we failed to find any. We did have good sightings of both Great Spotted Cuckoo and Little Owl though. From here we went down to the coast of Mandria in search for Greater Sand-plover which we had been tipped on the day before, we failed that too. An Osprey coming ashore was our best bird in the area, so after a while we decided to go up to the Trodos Mountains in search for the endemic subspecies. En route we had several sighting of Great Spotted Cuckoo and species such as Wren, Chaffinch and Serin got more numerous the higher we got. Fog, rain and wind made the stay on the top a rather cold and unpleasant experience. Nonetheless we managed to find all the endemics we searched for. Even on the top we had sightings of Cyprus Wheatear, proving that this is a species which is really hard to miss on a trip to Cyprus. If you don’t manage to find the species you look for, just drive back and forth in the pine area, with random stops. We found the Crossbills on our third try at the start of “Artemi’s Trail”. We returned to Paphos via Aspro Pools, which didn’t hold anything new.

Day 6
Early in the morning we headed for the Polis area, in the North-west. Started on dirt tracks along a river south of Chrysochou to Polis, and from there to Bath of Aphrodite. Really disappointing, with small numbers of birds combined with some hard showers… We continued to Evretou Dam, northern end. This was the only place we noticed a range overlap between Cyprus and Sardinian Warblers, with males defending territories (singing) next to each other. We continued to the southern end of the dam, which looked quite similar to the northern Germasogeia area. A stream ran through the grassy area giving good resting opportunities for passerines, mainly pipits and wagtails. An impressive sighting here was a flock of (at least) 150 Corn Buntings, a large flock of Yellow Wagtails were also present including feldegg/flava/beema. On the way to Paphos forest from here we made a stop in Simou, where Cyprus Herpetologist Union holds an exhibition of mostly snakes (7 of Cyprus’ 8 species was present). If you have the stomach for this I can warmly recommend it! We continued to Paphos forest (and thereafter Apollo Hotel) along this route: Simou –Skerfos Bridge –Filousa –Kio –Sarama –Anadiou –Aspiogia (west of..) –Stavros –Panagia –Aspiogia –Paphos. We witnessed on this trip some of the Cyprus turbulent past as we came closer to the Turkish border. Best example of this was the village of Kio that from a distance looked like a really picturesque small village, but as we came up close we realized that it was deserted by humans, now only used by animals mainly pigs and chickens, and the whole area was filled with garbage and a tremendous smell was in the air from the animals. The most unexpected species seen in Paphos forest was Coal Tits, which we expected to see only in the Trodos area, apart from that nothing of much interest. We decided to visit the forest because it holds a population of Mouflon (Ovis musimon), it was a shot in the dark that we had to miss…

Day 7
This was our last day in Paphos, so we spent some time before and after breakfast in the area around the lighthouse. This was also our first morning with little or no wind, which was really nice but also somewhat bitter since we had to leave in a short while. A real treat this morning was a beautifully plumaged adult male Subalpine Warbler of the eastern subspecies albistriata. We left Paphos in favour of the area around Larnaca Airport; Larnaca Salt Lake, North Lake, South Lake and eventually Spiro’s Pools was visited. A great numbers of waders were foraging in the saline lakes, as well as lots of gulls including Slender-billed Gulls and Little Gull. At Spiro’s Pool there is hide, that at first glance looks quite misplaced, but from here you have good opportunity to get higher than the fences and see the birds that are using these pools, which actually are artificial saline pools lined with plastic. A variety of water birds was present including Ruddy Shelducks, Black-necked Grebes and a variety of waders and gulls. In the surroundings lots of wagtails, pipits and larks was present in the fields. We also found an adult Rüppell’s Warbler and a young male Subalpine Warbler in the scrub close to the camping site, not far from here. After a while we left for Kiti Dam hoping for more water birds, but it was dry. But we did find our only Eastern Olivacious Warbler here, singing its characteristic “up-and-down roller coaster song”, which is the best way I can describe the song of this species… We also visited Cape Kiti and Larnaca fishing harbour, before ending the day at Cape Greco.

Day 8
The last morning we granted ourselves with a treat by sleeping until half past six in the morning, at least one hour more than ever before that week. We first retraced our steps to Cape Greco to see if there was any migration. 20+ Nightingales indicated a nice influx of this species since the last visit, some Blue Rock and Rock Thrushes where also nice sightings that morning before we decided to move inland with a short stop for food-supplies in Aiga Napa. Here we saw two Black-crowned Night Herons coming ashore off the beach of Aiga Napa. We took some small roads inland to Sotira Pools via Xylofagou, Avgorou, Fienaros and Deigeneia. Spanish Sparrows were numerous roadside inland on the way to Sotira. The Pools gave a nice surprise with no less than 4 Little Crakes, two males and two females, a Spotted Crake was also present there, as well as some Moorhen, Snipes, Wood Sandpiper and a singing Sedge Warbler. We drove back to Cape Greco on the coastal road from Paralimni for some photos before returning our rental car and departure back to Norway.
Thoughts about the trip
If you close your eyes from the hunting culture and loads of garbage everywhere, Cyprus can offer you a very nice stay if you’re planning a birding trip to the island. For a Norwegian, left hand driving, was in the beginning a rather strange experience but we got (almost) used to it. The prices are cheaper than we’re used to at home but nevertheless more expensive than other “Sun-Resort” countries like for instance Spain. We ended at 148 bird species for the trip which is somewhat like what we hoped for. Our major disappointments where not seeing species like Greater Sand-plover, Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler, Collared and Semi-collared Flycatcher and Roller. On the other hand Bimaculated Lark and Cinereous Bunting made this trip really special in addition to all the rest we saw during our stay at Cyprus. You never get it all anyway.
Thanks
I wish to thank Jeff Gordon for supplies of information both in the preparation face and during the stay at Paphos, John Sanders for giving us local information of the eastern part which resulted in sighting of Little Crakes, Rock Thrush, Glossy Ibis etc… I also wish to thank Alf Tore Mjøs and Trude Starholm for providing information while preparing this trip, and Magnus Robb for sharing his great knowledge of bird song in special, and of birds in general. Last I wish to thank Per Ole for a really great birding trip.

Systematic list:

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) svarthalsdykker
10.04: 3 Spiro's Pools

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) dvergdykker
06.04: 1 Aspro Pools
07.04: 2 Aspro Pools
11.04: 2 Sotira Pools

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea) gulnebblire
07.04: 2 off Paphos light house

Mediterranean Shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan) middelhavslire
05.04: 2 off Cape Greco

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii) toppskarv
07.04: ca 15 Kensington Cliffs

Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) dvergrørdrum
07.04: 1 Aspro Pools

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) natthegre
07.04: 2 Aspro Pools
11.04: 2 (1 ad. 1 2nd cal.) coming ashore off Aiga Napa.

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides) topphegre
07.04: 1 Germasogeia
09.04: 1 ind. Evretou Dam, southern end.

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) silkehegre
05.04: 4 Cape Greco
06.04: 2 Akrotiri, 1 Lady’s Mile, 1 Aspro, Shallow end.
10.04: 4 Paphos
11.04: 1 Cape Greco, 1 Sotira Pools.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) gråhegre
07.04: 2 Germasogeia, 1 Aspro Dam
10.04: 40 Spiro's Pools

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) purpurhegre
07.04: 2 Aspro Pools

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) bronseibis
05.04: 3 Aklina

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) flamingo
04.04: 25 near the Airport
06.04: 4 Akrotiri
10.04: 21 Spiro's Pools
11.04: 58 migrating E off Cape Greco

Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) gravand
10.04: 31 North Lake, 1 Spiro's Pools

Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) rustand
10.04: 2 Spiro's Pools

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) stokkand
07.04: 2 drakes at Germasogeia
09.04: 5 Evretou Dam
10.04: 10 At Spiro's Pools

Common Teal (Anas crecca) krikkand
10.04: 3 (1m+2ff) Spiro's Pools

Garganey (Anas querquedula) knekkand
07.04: 1 drake Germasogeia and 22 migrating N. off Paphos Lighthouse
10.04: 10 Spiro's Pools

Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) gåsegribb
07.04: 5 Kensington Cliffs

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) fiskeørn
08.04: 1 coming ashore off the Coast of Mandria.

Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus) sivhauk
11.04: 1 ad male Cape Greco

Montagu`s Harrier (Circus pygargus) enghauk
05.04: 1-2 2nd cal. Cape Greco (One seen the whole morning and another or the same seen coming ashorelater in the the day.

Pallid Harrier (Circus macrourus) steppehauk
05.04: 1 ad. female cape Greco
06.04: 1 ad. female Akrotiri
11.04: 1 ad. female Cape Greco

Long-legged Buzzard (Buteo rufinus) ørnvåk
06.04: 1 ad Akrotiri "Shallow end"

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) spurvehauk
09.04: 1 female Evretou Dam

Common Kestrel (Falco tininunculus) tårnfalk
04.-11.04: Seen regular in small or greater numbers.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus brookei) vandrefalk
05. and 11.04: 2 (m+f) Cape Greco 1 On the 11th.
06.04: 1 Akrotiri "Gravel pits"
08.04: 2 South of Kidasi

Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) halsbåndfrankolin
06.04: 10+ Heard in the Akrotiri and Aspro areas.
07.04: Several heard, only one seen, on several ocations during the day.
08.04: Same as yesterday, exelent view on one ocation (Mandria).
09.04: 1+ Heard S of Polis.

Chukar (Alectoris chukar cypriotes ) berghøne
04.-11.04: seen and heard daily in variable numbers.

Common Quail (Coturnix coturnix) vaktel
05.04: 4 Cape Greco
07.04: 1 seen near Paphos Airport.
08.04: 1 seen Mandria
09.04: 1 Heard S. of Polis
10.04: 1 Light house
11.04: 1 Heard N. of Xylophagou

Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana) myrrikse
05.04: 1 Sotira Pools (Paralimni) seen and heard.
(06.04: 1 Present at Aspro)
11.04: 1 Sotira Pools

Little Crake (Porzana parva) sumprikse
05.04: Male and female at Sotira Pools (Paralimni)
06.04: 2 ff seen well, Aspro Pools, still present on the 7th.
07.04: 1 Germosogeia.
11.04: possibly 4 different at Sotira Pool (2mm and 2 ff.). The two males were different from the one on the 5th, since this one had a limp.

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) sivhøne
05.04: 1 Aklina
08.04: 1 spouth of Kidasi and one Aspro.
09.04: 3 Evretou Dam
11.04: 5+ Sotira Pools.

Common Coot (Fulica atra) sothøne
05.11.04: registered on 6 days in small numbers in wetlands, max 15 in Spiro's Pools.

Common Crane (Grus grus) trane
06.04: 1 ad South of Lady's Mile

Pied Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) avosett
06.04: 1 Akrotiri

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) stylteløper
05.04: 1 Aklina
06.04: 20+ Akrotiri
10.04: 4 North Lake

Stone-curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) triel
04.04: 1 seen in fligth while taxing at the Airport, (First species of the trip!)
05.04: 2 Aklina.

Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) dverglo
05.04: 2 Aklina
06.04: 5 Lady's Mile
10.04: 5+ North lake and 4 Spiro's Pools

Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) sandlo
05.04: 15 Aklina

Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) hvitbrystlo
06.04: 25 Lady's Mile
10.04: 4 North Lake, 1 Spiro's Pools.

Spur-winged Plover (Vanellus spinosus) sporevipe
05.04: 1 Aklina

Sanderling (Calidris alba) sandløper
10.04: 6 Spiro's Pools

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) myrsnipe
06.04: 1 Lady's Mile
10.04: 4 North Lake

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) tundrasnipe
05.04: 1 Aklina

Temminck`s Stint (Calidris temminckii) temmincksnipe
05.04: 1 Aklina

Little Stint (Calidris minuta)dvergsnipe
05.04: 15-20 Aklina and 10 Paralimni.
06.04: 30+ Lady's Mile
10.04: 100+ North Lake, 12 Spiro's Pools

Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) enkeltbekkasin
05.04: 1 Cape Greco and one at Aklina
06.04. 2 Aspro Pools
11.04. 2 Sotira Pools

Curlew (Numenius arquata) Storspove
10.04: 1 Spiro's Pools

Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) grønnstilk
05.-11.04: Recorded on six days, in singles or small numbers.

Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) skogsnipe
05.04: 3 Aklina and 2 Paralimni
06.04: 1 Aspro Pools
07.04: 3 Germasogeia

Spotted Redshank (Tringa erythropus) sotsnipe
05.04: 1 Aklina

Redshank (Tringa totanus) rødstilk
05.04: 5 Aklina

Marsh Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis) damsnipe
05.04: 2 Aklina
07.04: 1 Germasogeia
10.04: 15-20 North Lake

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) gluttsnipe
06.04: 1 Akrotiri
07.04: 1 Germasogeia
10.04: 50+ North Lake

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) strandsnipe
05.-10.04: common in small numbers in wetlands.

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) brushane
05.04: 20 Aklina, 4 Paralimni
06.04: 25 Lady's Mile
09.04: 1 male 2ff at Evretou Dam
10.04: 30 North Lake + Spiro's Pools

Little Gull ( Larus minutus) dvergmåke
05.04: 15 in one flock migrating E off Cape Greco (most probably this species)
10.04: 1 2nd cal North lake and 3 Spiro's Pools.

Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus) hettemåke
10.04: 4 Spiro's Pools

Slender-billed Gull (Larus genei) smalnebbmåke
10.04: 9 North Lake, 1 Spiro's Pools.

Audouin's Gull (Larus audouinii) middelhavsmåke
05.04: 6 ad, 1 3rd and 1 2nd cal (8 ) Cape Greco
07.04: 1 3rd cal. migrating S off Paphos Lighthouse
11.04: 1 ad Cape Greco

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) sildemåke
05.04: 3 Cape Greco
07.04: 10 Paphos Lighthouse
10.04: 2 ad Larnaka

Western Yellow-legged Gull (Larus argentatus/cachinnans michahellis) gulbeingråmåke
05.-11.04. Common

Rock Dove (Columba livia) klippedue
07.04: 10-15 Kensington Cliffs

[Feral Pigeon (Columba livia dom.) bydue]
04.-11.04: Common

Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus) ringdue
05.-11.04: common in small numbers in suitable habitat.

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) tyrkerdue
04.-11.04: Common in villages and towns.

Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur) turteldue
06.04: 2 near Bishop's pool.
08.04: 2 Paphos Lighthouse
10.04: 1 Spiro's Pools

Great Spotted Cuckoo (Clamator glandarius) skjæregjøk
06.04: 2 ad Aspro, "Shallow End"
07.04: 1 heard Nikokleia
08.04: 4-5 roadside to Trodos (2 Paphiana)
09.04: 4 Evretou-Filousa

"Cyprus" Scops Owl (Otus scops cyprius) dverghornugle
07.04: 3 heard Nikokleia

Little Owl (Athene noctua lilith) kirkeugle
07.04: 2 Nikokleia
08.04: 1 Paphiana,and one heard near Kidasi.

Common Swift (Apus apus) tårnseiler
05.04: 15 Aklina
08.04: 5 Paphos

Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus) gråseiler
04.-11.04: seen dayly in variable numbers, often best distinguished from the former by sound.

Swift sp. (Apus pallidus/apus) grå/tårnseiler
04.-11.04: Many seeen every day. Many Common Swifts no doubt fell in in this category.

Alpine Swift (Apus melba) alpeseiler
07.04: 15+ Kensington Cliffs

Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) isfugl
05.04: 1 Paralimni

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis) terneisfugl
07.04: 1 "Tombs of Kings", Paphos.

Hoopoe (Upupa epops) hærfugl
05.-11.04: Common and widespread in small numbers.

Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) vendehals
05.04: 1 Cape Greco
07.04: 1 Foinikaria (near Germasogeia)
11.04: 1 Cape Greco

Skylark (Alauda arvensis) sanglerke
05.04: 1 Cape Greco
06.04: 11 Akrotiri
10.04: 1 Spiro's Pools

Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) topplerke
04.-11.04: Extremely common and abundant, if you miss this, sell your "bins".

Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla) dverglerke
05.04: 1 Cape Greco
06.04: 30+ Akrotiri and 3 near Aspro.
07.04: 40 in one flock Paphos Lighthouse less numerous on the 8th, 6 the 9th of April.
10.04: 10+ Paphos Lighthouse.

Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) kalanderlerke
06.04: 7 Akrotiri
10.04: 2 Larnaka Salt Lake, one displaying male Spiro's Pools.

Bimaculated Lark (Melanocorypha bimaculata) fjellkalanderlerke
06.04: 1 Akrotiri

Sand Martin (Riparia riparia) sandsvale
04.04: 5 near the Airport
07.04: 2-3 Germasogeia
08.04: 1 coast of Mandria
09.04: 1 Latsi (W of Polis) and 10 Evretou Dam.

Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) klippesvale
09.04: 8-10 Bath of Aphrodite

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) låvesvale
04. -11.04: common in varible but good numbers.

Red-rumped Swallow (Hirundo daurica) amursvale
05. -11.04: daily recordings but much less numerous than the former species.

House Martin (Delichon urbica) taksvale
04. -11.04: As for Swallow but less numerous.

Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris) markpiplerke
05.04: 6 Cape Greco
06.04: reg. During the day
07.04:1 Paphos Lighthouse, 5+ the subsequent day and 2 on the 9th.
09.04:3 south of Kio
11.04: 2 Cape Greco

Water Pipit (Anthus spinoletta) vannpiplerke
07.04: 3 in summer plumage Germasogeia.

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) heipiplerke
05. -11.04: Seen almost daily max 30+ Paphos on the 7th.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) trepiplerke
05. -11.04: almost daily in variable numbers, max 30+ migrating Cape Greco on the 11th.

Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus) lappiplerke
05.04: 2 Cape Greco
07.04: 1 Paphos Lighthouse and 1 Tomb of Kings.
10.04: 3+ Spiro's Pools

White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) linerle
04. -11.04: Seen daily in variable numbers, not as numerous as Yellow Wagtail.

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) gulerle
05. -11.04: Numerous and widespread, ssp feldegg the most noticed but also flava/beema/thunbergi noted. Largest flocks of 50+ noted at both Paphos and Evretou Dam on the 9th and by Spiro's Pools the subsequent day.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) vintererle
05.04: 1 Aklina
07.04: 1 female at Germasogeia

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) gjerdesmett
08.04: 8 roadside to Trodos
09.04: 2 Paphos Forest

Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) sørnattergal
08.04: 4 Paphiana, and 1 singing S of Mandria (in high alt. not coastal M.)
09.04: 1 S of Polis, 3 Bath of Aphrodite, 1 Evretou Dam
10.04: 6-7 Paphos Lighthouse, 1 Spiro's Pools and 1 Cape Greco
11.04: 20+ Cape Greco and 1 Spiro's Pools. A major influx during the week.

Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus samamisicus) rødstjert
08.04: 1 male Paphiana.
09.04: 1 male Bath of Aphrodite
10.04: 1 male Apollo Hotel
11.04: 1 male Cape Greco

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) buskskvett
09.04: 1 Evretou Dam and 1 Paphos Lighthouse

Isabelline Wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina) isabellasteinskvett
04.04: 4 Cape Greco
05.04: 6 Cape Greco
06.04: 1 Akrotiri "Gravel Pits" and 1 Lady's Mile
07.04: 1 Tombs of Kings
10.04: 1 Spiro's Pools
11.04: 1 Cape Greco

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) steinskvett
04. -11.04: Seen daily in variable but good numbers, max 30+ Akrotiri

Cyprus Wheatear (Oenanthe cypriaca) kyprossteinskvett
04. -11.04: Seen daily in variable numbers at different latitudes, hard to miss.

Black-eared Wheatear (Oenanthe hispanica melanoleuca) middelhavssteinskvett
05.04: 1 male (light-throated) and 1 female (dark-throated) Cape Greco
06.04: 2 males Akrotiri area (Both black throated)
07.04: 1 male (light-throated) and 1 female (dark-throated) Germasogeia
08.04: 1 male (light-throated) coast of Mandria.
09.04: 1 male (black-throated) Paphos Lighthouse
10.04: 1 2nd cal male Paphos Lighthouse and a male near Spiro's Pools.
11.04: 1 female or 2nd cal male Cape Greco.

Rock Thrush (Monticola saxatilis) steintrost
05.04: 3 males Cape Greco (All perched in one tree for a moment!)
06.04: 1 male in Arotiri area near Bishop's Pools.
11.04: 1 2nd cal male and 1 female Cape Greco

Blue Rock-thrush (Monticola solitarius) blåtrost
11.04: 1male and 1 female Cape Greco

Blackbird (Turdus merula) svarttrost
08.04: 1 in Trodos ("City")

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) måltrost
06.04: 1 Aspro, shallow end

Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) duetrost
05.04: 1 Cape Greco

Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) munk
04. -11.04: Common seen daily in variable good numbers.

Orphean Warbler (Sylvia hortensis crassirostris) mestersanger
04.04: 1male and 1 female Cape Greco
05.04: 1male and 1 female Cape Greco (Different from the above)

Common Whitethroat (Sylvia communis) tornsanger
04.04: 1 female Cape Greco
05.04. 1 male Cape Greco
10.04: 1 female Paphos Lighthouse
11.04: 1 Cape Greco

Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca) møller
04. -11.04: Most common and numerous around Cape Greco but seen elsewhere max 20+ Cape Greco 5th of April

Sardinian Warbler (Sylvia melanocephala) svarthodesanger
05.04: 1male Cape Greco
08.04: 1 singing male Kidasi and a male Paphiana
09.04: 2 south of Polis, "several" at Bath of Aphrodite and 2 Evretou Dam
10.04: 1 male Paphos Lighthouse

Rüppell's Warbler (Sylvia rueppellii) svartstrupesanger
04.04: 1 male Cape Greco
05.04: 1 male Cape Greco (Different from the former)
10.04: 1 male Spiro's Pools.

Cyprus Warbler (Sylvia melanothorax) kyprossanger
05.04: 2 males and 2 females Cape Greco
06.04: 1 male Aspro Pools
07.04: 3 males Germasogeia and a female Kensington Cliffs
08.04: 2 males and a female Kidasi
09.04: 2 males Evretou Dam, only place close Sardinian. Several seen later that day, 1 S of Kio.

Spectacled Warbler (Sylvia conspicillata) maskesanger
04. -11.04: Common in dry bushy habitat along the coast, 10+ and found a nest containing 4 nestlings, Cape Greco on the 4th.

Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia cantillans albistriata) rødstrupesanger
07.04: 1 female at Kensington Cliffs.
10.04: 1 male Paphos Lighthouse, and 1 male (Probably 2nd cal) Spiro's Pools

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis) cistussanger
04. -11.04: Common in suitable habitat, can't miss it!

Cetti's Warbler (Cettia cetti) cettisanger
05. -11.04: Same as the former. (Common!)

Savi's Warbler (Locustella luscinioides) sumpsanger
08.04: 1 singing male N. of Georgios.

Moustached Warbler (Acrocephalus melanopogon mimica) tamarisksanger
6. -8.04: 1-2 males (song heard) at Aspro Pools. (2 ind. on the 7th.)

Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) sivsanger
09.04: 1 ind. Evretou Dam (Southern end)

Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus fuscus) rørsanger
05.04: 1 singing male Aklina
06.04: numerous in Akrotiri reed beds, also heard Aspro pools
09.04: 2 Evretou Dam

Eastern Olivaceuos Warbler (Hippolais pallida elaeica) østlig blekspottesanger
10.04: 1 singing Kiti Dam.

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) gransanger
04. -11.04: Seen almost daily in small numbers, max 10+ Cape Greco on the 4th.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochillus) løvsanger
04.04: 1 at Cape Greco
09.04: 2 Bath of Aphrodite.
11.04: 1 Cape Greco

Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) svart-hvit fluesnapper
10.04: 1 male Paphos Lighthouse

Great Tit (Parus major) kjøttmeis
06.04: 8+ Akrotiri Area
07.04: 5+ Paphos Airport
08.04: Seen both near Paphiana and the Trodos mountains.
09.04: Seen, for instance "several" at Bath of Aphrodite
10.04: several in the Paphos area

"Cyprus" Coal Tit (Parus ater cypriotes) svartmeis
08.04: Numerous in the Trodos mountains
09.04: 5 singing in Paphos Forest, unexpected!

"Cyprus" Short-toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla dorothea) kortklotrekryper
08.04: Numerous in the Trodos Mountains.

Penduline Tit (Remiz pendulinus) pungmeis
07. -08.04: 1male present at Aspro Pools.

Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) rødhodevarsler
04.04: 1 Cape Greco
06.04: 1 Akrotiri Gravel Pits and 1 at Aspro, the shallow end.
09.04: 1 Evretou Dam

Masked Shrike (Lanius nubicus) hvitpannevarsler
04.04: 1 found still alive on a glue-stick, Cape Greco. Welcome to Cyprus! (Decided to put it to rest…)
05.04: 1 Cape Greco

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius glaszneri) nøtteskrike
08.04: 8-10 Trodos mountains

Magpie (Pica pica) skjære
05. -11.04: Common and widespread in small numbers.

Hooded Crow (Corvus corone sharpii) kråke
04. -11.04: Common

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula soemmerringii) kaie
06. -10.04: Common and numerous from Limassol and westward.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) gråspurv
04. -11.04: Common near people.

Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis) middelhavsspurv
06.04: 200+ in a Valley on the road to the shallow end of Aspro Dam.
08.04: 1 male and 3-4 females Aspro Pools.
09.04: Numerous in the north-eastern parts around both Bath of Aphrodite and Evretou Dam (and elsewhere)
11.04: Seen numerous inland: N of Xylophagou and around Sotira's Pools.

Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) bokfink
06.04: 1 female Akrotiri
08.04: Common From Mandria (not coastal) to Trodos Mountains

Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) tornirisk
04. -11.04: Common widespread, seen daily, in variable numbers.

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) stillits
04. -11.04: Common widespread, seen daily, in variable numbers.

Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) grønnfink
04. -11.04: Common widespread, seen daily, in variable numbers.

Serin (Serinus serinus) gulirisk
06.04: 3 noted in the Akrotiri area.
07.04: 3 seen in the Germasogeia area
08.04: Quite numerous at higher altitude, roadside to and from Trodos.

"Cyprus" Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra guillemardi) grankorsnebb
08.04: Flock of max 10 ind. at the beginning of Artemis Trail, between Trodos and Olympus.

Cinereous Bunting (Emberizia cineracea) tyrkerspurv
04.04: 1 male at Cape Greco (age probably 2nd cal.)

Ortulan Bunting (Emberizia hortulana) hortulan
04.04: 1 female Cape Greco
07.04: 2 (male +female) Paphos Lighthouse, 4 Tomb of Kings, 20+ Germasogeia
08.04: 10+ Paphos Lighthouse.

Cretzschmar's Bunting (Emberizia caesia) rustspurv
04.04: 50+ Cape Greco, 30+ the subsequent day
07.04: 5 Paphos Lighthouse, 2 males and a female the subsequent day.
10.04: 3 ind. Paphos Lighthouse, and 2 Spiro's Pools.
11.04: 5+ Cape Greco

Corn bunting (Mililaria calandra) kornspurv
04. -11.04: Very common and abundant, especially in agricultural landscape, max 150+ in one flock in the southern end of Evretou dam on the 9th.

Mammals:
Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus) storørepiggsvin
11.04: two roadkills, probably of this species, found at Cape Greco and Paralimni.
Microchiroptera sp.
07.04: 1 ind. Aspro Pools
Cape/Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus/capensis) sør/kapphare
05.04: droppings found at Cape Greco
06.04: 1 seen Aspro Pools
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) svartrotte
06.04: 1 ind. Taken but dropped by Large Wip Snake Aspro Dam, Shallow end.
Invertebrates
“Common” Agama (Stellio stellio) “vanlig” agam
04. –11.04: Common widespread, seen almost daily.
Large Wip Snake (Coluber jugularis)
06.04: 2 individuals, shallow end of Aspro Dam
Blunt-nosed Viper (Vipera lebetina)
06.04: one really adult specimen near Bishops Pool, Akrotiri area.
Green-spotted toad (Bufo viridis) grønnflekkpadde
05.04: 3+ Cape Greco
Green Tree-frog (Hyla arborea) løvfrosk
07.04: 1 checked in hand Germasogeia.
Rana ”former” ridibunda (split from this species)
04. –11.04 common and noisy

Geir F. Karlsen

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